ENDING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND POST 2015 APPLICATION

COUNTRY: LESOTHO

CATEGORY: GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

ORGARNISATION: TS’ANA-TALANA COMMUNITY COUNCIL

AWARENESS: A ROUTE TO GENDER EQAULITY

In the past I used to take gender issues lightly because I thought it was a norm for a woman to be beaten. I thought only women were abused, of which I have observed now that was not true because also men, boys and girls were also victims. As a focal person at Ts’ana-talana community council, I attended some of the workshops which made me realized the importance of gender violence, where we were taught how to deal with victims of gender violence, its prevention in connection to 16 days of activism

SYNOPSIS: The focal person prepared the special programmme of gender based violence in June 2014.The target was specifically on the articles 20-25 of the SADC protocol related to GBV including sexual violence. The project strives for Gender equality among men, women, boys and girls either disable or able in all activities of the council. This is was successful as everybody was invited, regardless of their health status. The project was on gender based violence and the purpose for this project was to enforce the right of all sexes. It came to the council’s realization that the education of gender based violence is needed and for it to be successful it has to be done in every events of this council. Gender based violence appears physically, sexually and economically. The project was prepared to fight gender based violence in all its forms throughout the year.

KEY OBJECTIVES

WHAT DID THE PROJECT SET OUT TO DO?

TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR (365 DAYS) NOT ONLY FOR 16 DAYS

The council visited the village of ha –Raliemere, whereby the 72years was shot to death and this was done in front her four grandchildren. You can just imagine the misery that child is likely to experience throughout his life. This woman was killed because she was suspected of witchcraft.

The council‘s representation was consist of the chairperson, C.C.S, Focal person, C.I.D Officers, the councilors and staff members. The chairperson stated that every person has the right to live freely and peaceful everywhere in the council regardless of their status. He advised the community to stop taking law into their hands, if they

cannot solve their issues but rather take the matter to the relevant authority like police stations, chiefs, as well as courts of law.

It was an emotional moment, as the chairperson also cried. He warned them that if they don’t change their behavior, it will be impossible for their village to be considered for infrastructural development. The focal person Mrs.Matipi Tlali raised a concern whether the deceased was killed because of her vulnerability? She vehemently made the community aware of article 10-1(g) which says: a widow shall have protection against all forms of violence and discrimination on her status

DIRECT INDIRECT

NAMES OF GROUPS

WOMEN MEN TOTAL WOMEN MEN TOTAL

COMMUNITY AWARENESS AT HARALIMERE

35 22 57

GENDER PROTOCOL FORUM IN COUNCIL PREMISES

47 47 2

PUBLIC PARTICIPATORY IN MAKENENG VILLAGE

21 12 33

TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND UNDER AGE MARRIEGE AT HA SEBUSI VILLAGE

12 16 28

TOTAL 115 50 165 2

TO EDUCATE WOMEN ON THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS

There was a forum held at the premises of the council on 27 -08-2014 where the former minister of gender, sports and recreation was a special guest together with pastor Mabandla and mr Thabo Senyane from Assemblies of God.

Mrs. Lepono talked about the gender protocol and legal capacity of married person’s act 2006.She briefly summarized those acts because it was not easy to elaborate each one. She encourages the attendants to be happy with their

marriages and play their part as they are the heavenly care givers. She even advised them to avoid being parcels in their families, as they are equal and capable as their husbands. They need to have self-esteem and be strong in everything they do so as to change the world. Finally she begged them to respect and care for their husbands even though they are considered as equal, just as husband to care for and respect their wives.

Mr. Mabandla on the other hand said nothing rather than advising to take care of their husbands fully. Pastor made Tsanatalana aware that they are so lucky to have a caring mother Mrs. Lepono who is always ready to serve them at anytime. He even gave them a motivating sentence which says ‘’you can always learn and you should learn ‘He added that a good woman must makeup her bed every morning not the helping lady, to avoid temptations on the other side. He went further to state that a good woman is in control of her husband, s attire or else others will take care of him. PROVERBS 14-1-2

TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN AND MEN TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN PUBLIC EVENTS

The main reason to encourage our community to work together in every public event is to break the gender ignorance and discriminations. We advise them to form some kind of projects together as men and women. It seems to be clear to women that are why they were the first to register. By that time we nearly rename the project ‘WOMEN EMPOWERMENT society’, but it did not happen because at last men joined the project. Men and women are now clear that life is a commitment to success,that’s why in that picture are busy cleaning the tent. The tent was bought by the very same society which was intended to reduce poverty.

FOCUS GROUP ABOUT TEENAGE PREGRANANCY AND UNDER AGED MARRIAGE

The meeting was all about the discussion of teenage pregnancy and under age marriage of young girls and boys in the community. The discussion was on: how to attack the problem. The understanding is this is happening because of the traditional norms as African, where a boy will drop out from school and look after the animals because the father will be at work. Due to those norms the boy will be even by his father that he must look after the family as a man and normally there is time frame set for the boy as when to get in marriage communion. This also happen

to the girl where she will be given some responsibility when she reach a certain age, by doing this the parents they do oppresses their right which says; Children have rights to be educated, not to interfere with marriage issues (Article 11 C).But we see that that law is not taken into consideration as most of the girls have left the school to be head of the family as the mother will de going to hunt a job and lead to where the girl will feel mature enough to have her own family ,then she will get married as soon as she is feels ready. For that matter the council appealed to the community to go away with cultural and practice that perpetuates gender based violence. Imagine a 13 year old girl married to a lad man of 59 years just because the parents like the man due to his wealth. This culture is really sabotaging us!

KEY ACTIVITIES

Community meeting in manner of raising the awareness of gender based

violence and .dealing with specific instances

Forum to discuss the gender protocol and legal capacity of married person’s

act 2006.

Encourage equality in public participation through discussion and special

meetings.

Focus group to discuss teenage pregnancy and under age marriage

PARTNERSHIP AND COALITION BUILDING

Has the campaign to reduce gender based violence promoted partnerships and coalition building with other organization? Are these partnerships at local, national, regional or global level?

The campaign promoted partnerships with ministry of gender, dance for cure club of Ha-Ramohapi Mafeteng, Mamants’o community council and the former minister of gender youth and sports recreation Mrs. Mathabiso Lepono.

Dance for cure club is busy within the council, training our school girls and boys of Lerato Primary School the dance. While at Phahameng Primary School it also teaches soccer, life skills, awareness of HIV and AIDS and promoting gender equality.

Our partnership with ministry of gender was to disseminate and promote gender equality within our councils: Mamants’o and Ts’ana talana.

Paternering with the former minister was essential since it helped us to in implementing the gender protocol and teaching of legal capacity of married person‘s act 2006

Through those partnerships we have found the best way to of disseminating information at the grass roots level by holding focus groups, forums and campaigns in promoting gender equality and the fight against gender based violence.

TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN AND MEN TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN PUBLIC EVENTS

The main reason to encourage our community to work together in every public events is to break the gender ignorance and discriminations.We advise them to form some kind of projects together as men and women.It seems to be clear to women that’s why they were the first to register.By that time we nearly rename the project ‘WOMEN EMPOWERMENT society’ , but it did not happen because at last men joined the project. Men and women are now clear that life is a commitment to success,that’s why in that picture are busy cleaning the tent. The tent was bought by the very same society which was intended to reduce poverty.

FOCUS GROUP ABOUT TEENAGE PREGRANANCY AND UNDER AGED MARRIAGE

The meeting was all about the discussion of teenage pregnancy and under age marriage of young girls and boys in the community. The discussion was on: how to attack the problem. The understanding is this is happening because of the traditional norms as African, where a boy will drop out from school and look after the animals because the father will be at work. Due to those norms the boy will be even by his father that he must look after the family as a man and normally there is time frame set for the boy as when to get in marriage communion. This also happen to the girl where she will be given some responsibility when she reach a certain age, by doing this the parents they do oppresses their right which says; Children have rights to be educated, not to interfere with marriage issues (Article 11 C).But we see that that law is not taken into consideration as most of the girls have left the school to be head of the family as the mother will de going to hunt a job and lead to where the girl will feel mature enough to have her own family ,then she will get married as soon as she is feels ready. For that matter the council appealed to the community to go away with cultural and practice that perpetuates gender based violence. Imagine a 13 year old girl married to a lad man of 59 years just because the parents like the man due to his wealth. This culture is really sabotaging us!

AMOUNT LOCAL CURRENCY

AMOUNT IN RANDS EXPLANATION

GENDER SPECIFIC ALLOCATION

M36,850 M36,850 MEMBERSHIP AND SUSCRIPTION

GENDER IN MAINSTREAMING PROJECTS

M13,OOO M13,000 TENT FOR PROJECT

AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED IN CASH OR IN ANY KIND BY A PARTENER

IN KIND BY A PARTNER

SPEAKERS

TOTAL M23,850 M23,850

RESULTS

Working with governments

After the implementation of the 28 targets of the SADC gender protocol to women, boys, girls, men and disabled people, things became easier because we went straight to the community with this tool of protocol together with our councilors. It was not easy for the gender officer to visit the whole community alone .As focal person together with gender champion we were visiting our villages within the council as often as we can. As I have stated that we raised awareness throughout the year. As we talk now our community is well educated about gender equality and gender based violence, meaning the community knows where to report any incident of gender violence.

EVIDENCE

I remember the other time when we were with the district gender officer in other occasion of gender issues as he arrived; he was surprise because he did not know that our community is invited. He passed the remark saying he is so proud of

Ts’ana-talana community council because of its hard work. He continue continued saying everything we want to implement we must inform him so that he may assist where possible. All in all we encourage the council to work hard to disseminate information about gender equality and gender based violence in all sphere

This is where gender officer Mr. Petlane was taking part in the paternership of Mamantso and Ts’ana talana.

WORKING WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

At first was it difficult because our community was to address the community with gender information because people were still holding on to their traditional norms. After addressing those in several times, they lastly understand that is needed in their lives. As a focal person I talked to them about gender equality and women empowerment, to proof the point of the need of change in the community. I presented and delivered the gender equality message, everywhere in the public events. For instance I went as far as disseminating the information about into the churches and to the funerals. After the dissemination of information, the community agreed to form the project called multipurpose society and it is for everybody within the community. Members of the community are free to meet and talk about their problems and how to overcome such prolems.This project was composed of females and males of the community. The attitudes of men towards women changed in the sudden manner and this was same from the women to the men due to some workshops held there in the community at the project. Again there is a huge difference at home and at work, really the approaches between these two sexes have improved.

EVIDENCE

Through this project of multipurpose, we received so many invitations and questionnaire to the neighboring villages like Ramarothole and Ha-Lempetje who wanted to know our multipurpose manage. A young man from Ha Ramarothole said he is going to recruit young people of his age and also invite the members of multipurpose society project to disseminate the information about gender equality so that in the next two years the project will serve all the EDs within the council.Multi purpose builds partnership with that neighboring village even though

they have not started contributing some money to support the project. This shows that the dissemination of information about gender equality and gender based violence will be very easy to a large group of people at once.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES

Working with communities brought a great change down there at grass roots level where we are as a council. Like I have said women, girls, boys, men and disabled people know their rights. For example both boys and girls know that they have rights to be educated while at first a boy believes that he was supposed to herd cattle, a girl believes that she is to look for family activities and to take care of children while a mother is away, even to be married at young age. Things have changed and they are aware that they are equally with boys, they only differ biologycally.On the other side widows know exactly that they are free to claim their rights because of the knowledge they received from those public gathering and forums. To add on this we have realised that we have build unity (ones) in our community, they love, care and sympathize with others in times of need. The element of ignoring and discriminating each other has broken and gender based violecence will be reduced.

The above picture shows unity among boys and girls after the forum of gender equality they went through

WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

The newspaper by the name “Informative” visited the village of Ha-Raliemere with council for the awareness of gender based violence and promotion of gender equality. In this instance an old woman was shot killed the other evening. The purpose was to disseminate powerful speeches about gender based violence.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

We did involve the community in the campaign for ending of gender based violence by inviting councilors, neighbouring chiefs and the community at large. We did heard about the killing of a widow at HA-RALIEMERE we did organize a campaign within no time to go and be against that incident. We Have written some messages on the boards to deliver to the perpertrators.What we do was only to show the

works that we know our rights and we symphonizes with those people and her family. The community did support the campaign because they did attend in big numbers. What we realize is that they were afraid to say a word because by that time the killers were not been caught.

EVIDENCE

One of the community members Mrs. Maneo Setaka said that they are appealing to police deal with this uncalled for behavior as soon as possible so as this rapid killing of people could come to an end. He continued saying they are now living with fear

ever since that incident.

The above picture shows agressiveness of the Raliemere community after the killing of the woman of 72 years in their village.

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION

One time the project was supposed to organize a quick campaign of awareness in fighting against violence at Ha-Raliemere where an old woman was shot and stabbed to death we did invite police from Mafeteng to assist in terms of security and permission. It was emotional moment where people were crying. Being there was a great help because those killers were caught within two weeks, so we do encourage our community to speak when any violence is happening. What we have learned is that people in the villages are afraid to talk maybe they fear There perpertrators,Meaning there are still miles to cover in the process of disseminating gender equality and awareness of gender based violence.

Since we have been working with these partners we did realized that there is a great difference from our community. Dance for cure club of Ramohapi has brought improvement to our school children of Lerato Primary School and Phahameng.P.School Boys and Girls are grouped together to perform the activities which will help in promoting gender equality and reduce of gender based violence. What we have learned is that (Palesa a peace corp) from America the founder of Dance for cure club is a small girl and she is active so our pupil do understand the

way she do things. They enjoy being with her again they feel free Rather Than we

old age.

3, I have realized that in life we need one another in any activities of life. In gender family there is no ‘one man can’ meaning we have to share responsibilities no matter sexes In order to meet the target. At first when we were doing campaigns we were not inviting men as if they were not part of the

community which was totally one of the things that is against gender equality. It was as if the world was quite about violence whereas it wasnt, so the better way is to work together.

In future we have to invite more ministries to help in implementing of other project

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION

The program me can be replicated for villages to educate women on their constitutional and human rights, while girls and boys will taught about their rights. It can be cascaded easily by visiting schools, each week per school. According to women this kind of workshop should be done on the public sphere. Remember no project without resources so the next step of multi purpose is to continue with its contribution monthly so that it will be possible to participate. The program me has brought a lot of knowledge to all groups of people being boys, girls, women, and men. They are now able to speak out on gender based violence incidents